We are delighted to congratulate two members of the Tao Lab, Lois Luo and Yi-Kai (Kai) Liu, on receiving prestigious awards from the Department of Biochemistry in Spring 2026.
Lois Luo Received Outstanding TA Award
Lois Luo was honored with the Outstanding TA Award, which recognizes exceptional performance as a teaching assistant. Throughout the semester, Lois demonstrated remarkable dedication to student learning, providing patient guidance and individualized support to help students master challenging concepts and laboratory techniques. Her commitment to continuous improvement and constructive feedback created a positive and effective learning environment for her students.
Yi-Kai (Kai) Liu received the AK Balls Award, an annual award presented to a biochemistry graduate student approaching completion of their PhD who demonstrates outstanding potential for significant contributions to biochemical research.
Yi-Kai Liu Received AK Balls Award
Kai has established an impressive research record, publishing eight first-author or co-author papers in leading journals, including Molecular & Cellular Proteomics, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Science, PNAS Nexus, and Journal of Proteome Research. He has presented his work at national conferences, including an oral presentation at the 21st US HUPO Conference and poster presentations at the 71st, 72nd, and 73rd ASMS Conferences on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics. This summer, Kai will further his professional development as an intern at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in New York.
We are proud of Lois and Kai for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the Tao Lab, the Department of Biochemistry, and the broader scientific community.